Paschall's Picks: VU's Masonis listening to cowbells

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

OTHER PICKSFlorida 34, E. Kentucky 13Duke 27, North Carolina 24Va. Tech 26, Wake Forest 17Pittsburgh 23, Syracuse 20Clemson 44, Georgia St. 9FSU 41, Boston College 20Notre Dame 26, Louisville 23Miami 23, Virginia 22MTSU 38, Fla. Atlantic 27Ohio State 45, Indiana 14Michigan St. 34, Rutgers 17Oklahoma 35, Kansas 10Oregon 51, Colorado 17Baylor 48, Oklahoma St. 28Wisconsin 20, Iowa 17UCLA 31, Southern Cal 28Arizona St. 35, Wash. St. 24

Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason has experienced a lot of "first times" in his inaugural voyage around the Southeastern Conference.

This week's trek has Mason's 3-7 Commodores visiting Starkville for a test against No. 4 Mississippi State, which is 9-1 after last week's 25-20 loss at Alabama. Davis Wade Stadium has moved up the list of loudest league venues with a capacity of more than 62,000, so how does Mason plan to handle all those cowbells?

By immersing himself in cowbells, of course.

"I've been listening on my iPod for about 20 minutes a day," Mason said Wednesday, "and hopefully that helps me understand how to think through the process as the game is going on. We've had those cowbells ringing as loud as we can in practice to simulate it.

"We have a good idea of what to expect, but it's never the same as the real thing."

When told of Mason's iPod ritual entering Saturday night's game, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said, "I've never heard of that one before."

While Mullen's Bulldogs will be guarding against a hangover from last week's loss and from looking ahead to next week's trip to Ole Miss, Mason's Commodores are hoping to make the most of a spiraled season. Vanderbilt already was bowl-eligible at this point the past two years under James Franklin, but they're saddled now with the role of spoiler.

After Saturday's trip to Starkville, the Commodores will host improving Tennessee.

"You're talking about playing a team in Mississippi State who's a former No. 1 and is still in the top four," Mason said. "We talk to our guys about playing relevant games in November. We don't have the possibility of postseason at this point in time, but the thing that we do understand is that we have a chance to leave a mark."

Pasquali's Pix:

Charleston Southern at Georgia: Nick Chubb has 1,039 rushing yards through 10 games. Herschel Walker had 1,616 in 11 games as a freshman in 1980. Bulldogs 48, Buccaneers 7.

South Alabama at South Carolina: One of these teams already is bowl-eligible, and it isn't coached by Steve Spurrier. Gamecocks 28, Jaguars 19.

Ole Miss at Arkansas: The Rebels are not lacking for late-season motivation as the No. 8 team in the College Football Playoff rankings. Rebels 27, Razorbacks 20.

UTC at Furman: A phrase never before uttered in UTC football history -- the Mocs are playing for seeding this week. Mocs 37, Paladins 14.

Western Carolina at Alabama: Can the Crimson Tide produce a similar WCU blowout as the 51-0 scalding provided by the Mocs? Crimson Tide 52, Catamounts 3.

Samford at Auburn: The recent tweaking of the SEC schedule results in Auburn holding its home finale against either Alabama or an FCS school. Tigers 41, Bulldogs 14.

Missouri at Tennessee: The Tigers are seeking their 10th consecutive true road victory, which would be a school record. Volunteers 31, Tigers 24.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State: It's not every year the Bulldogs wrap up a 7-0 season at home. Bulldogs 33, Commodores 10.

Last week:

Winners....................19

Games controlled......6

Pasquali is now 236-64 (78.7 percent) overall this season.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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